The "Dance" Continues

It was a perfect day outside today and it warmed up nicely from the 32 degrees F we saw on the thermometer this morning. Nice shot above of the dwarf yellow columbine (Aquilegia canadensis 'Corbett') in the woodland walk. I can't get enough of columbines and we must have 300 of them out there starting to do "their thing." Very productive day today for everyone. I was able to fertilize about 1/2 our lawns, talked daylilies with Lisa (who is working on our collection), was on the radio promoting the plant sale and did some odds and ends. Marv and John started the day by planting yews and a maple. John moved to rototilling and composting while Marv finished edging the arboretum iris beds (boy do they look sharp...4 irises in bloom already out there!). Marianne tidied the entrance garden, did her cutting display (which are works of art in and of themselves) and planted some perennials in the English cottage garden and woodland walk. Larry weed-whipped, went for supplies, picked up daisies and bounced between projects. Janice popped in on her day off to have her laptop "hooked" in to our wireless system. Bill was here all day spreading mulch and tidying up. Roy and Mary came in to weed their section of the shade garden and we also saw Jumbo Jim and four RECAPPERS who worked on removals and transplanting some shrubs. We also saw Dr. Gredler today and Karen M. kept busy in the Japanese garden. Above are some "vines of interest" out in the gardens. To the left is the fiveleaf akebia (Akebia quinata) which is a tough woody vine but not overly vigorous. This specimen (native to China, Korea and Japan) is in a shaded spot under the porch overhang in the English cottage garden and has been there for over 10 years. The flowers, while small, are a beautiful maroon and smell faintly of chocolate (also called chocolate vine). There is a variegated version of the chocolate vine but we haven't been able to successfully establish it yet. To the above right is the Japanese hydrangea vine (Schizophragma hydrangeoides 'Moonlight') that is known for its silvery blue foliage and will eventually have white flower clusters after many years of establishment. This vine, similar in climbing habit to the climbing hydrangea (Hydrangea anomala subsp. petiolaris), is marginally hardy and slow to establish. I saw impressive specimens out East but think we're a decade away from that reality. We've planted a dozen or so around rough barked cottonwoods in the woodland walk in the hopes that they will work up the furrowed trunks.

It's not hard to find color out in the gardens this time of year. Below is the colorful foliage of 'Tiramisu' coral bells (Heuchera) with bright, vivid growth. Coral bells such as these don't look as bright and crisp after a WI summer but the spring growth is eye catching nonetheless. Good soil, excellent drainage and adequate sunlight are essential for coral bell success. Further down is my favorite grape hyacinth (Muscari armeniacum) cultivar named 'Valerie Finnis'. I just love the powder-blue look. We use these in clumps of 20 or so bulbs (planted in October) and replicated in many locations. The bottom photo is of the Japanese wood poppy (Glaucidium palmatum) with huge, silky, purple-pink blossoms and bold, maple-like leaves. We have this perennial in multiple spots and get lots of compliments on them each year.